The Job Fair and Career Expo 2007 at The Depot last Wednesday afternoon brought in a room full of employers and many more employment seekers. Service Specialist Advanced Ginger Rowlin, with the Georgia Department of Labor said there were 32 businesses with recruiters at the event, and she registered almost 350 people searching for a job.

"We had 175 in just the first hour," Ms. Rowlin said. "When you look at the unemployment rate, you can see that people need jobs."

Each business had a booth set up inside The Depot with at least one Human Resource representative to answer questions and assist people with applications.

"I got some nice surprises with some of the experienced people that came by," said Larry Collins, the HR Manager for Thomson Plastics.

People came from Washington, Wrens, Warrenton, Tignall and Louisville searching for a job.

Ann Myerholtz said she was searching for a job because she was laid off after 18 years with Pliant Corporation in Washington.

Naheede Brooks, the employment marketing representative with the Georgia DOL said the job fair was to introduce the unemployed to the recruiters and to direct those who didn't know how to look for a job. In addition to the businesses and representatives, Ms. Brooks said the DOL had professional resume writers at the event to help people write a resume, or to offer suggestions for those who already had one. Ms. Brooks said the main point they were trying to emphasize during the event was for people to utilize the DOL website.

Wednesday's event was presented by the Georgia Department of Labor, Thomson Career Center, DOL Vocational Rehabilitation/Thomson Office, and the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the state website at www.dol.state.ga.us, or visit the Thomson office at 232 Main Street.